[Electron microscopic study on scirrhous carcinoma of human breast--cellular characteristics of subtypes and prognosis].

Scirrhous carcinoma of the breast was divided into 2 subtypes and studied electron microscopically. One type consisted of severe scleroid infiltration of papillotubular carcinoma into the stromal tissues, the other of scirrhous carcinoma in a narrow sense. In the former type, heterochromatins, light and dark cells, and intercellular lumens were observed. In the latter type, euchromatins, light cells and the absence of intercellular lumens were noted. Many intracytoplasmic lumens were observed in scirrhous carcinoma of the latter type. Thus, the 2 subtypes of scirrhous carcinoma differed greatly from each other electron microscopically due to different cellular activities. In discussing prognosis, the 2 subtypes of scirrhous carcinoma of the breast should be differentiated.